Mandevilla plant named ‘QD8’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘QD8’, characterized by its compact, broadly upright to vining plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and relatively large strong red-colored flowers with greyed orange-colored throats.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla sanderi.

Cultivar denomination: ‘QD8’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla sanderi and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘QD8’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and freely branching Mandevilla plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark in August, 2015 of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number GB 2013-0902, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number GB 2013-0196, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark in May, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark, since September, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘QD8’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘QD8’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Compact, broadly upright to vining plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Relatively large strong red-colored flowers with greyed         orange-colored throats.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the new Mandevilla have strong red-colored flowers whereas plants of the female parent selection have soft pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in growth habit as plants of the new Mandevilla are more compact and denser than and not as vigorous and open as plants of the male parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Mandevilla do not produce tendrils whereas plants of the male parent selection produce tendrils.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can also be compared to plants of Mandevilla sanderi ‘Sundaville Beauty Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants ‘Sundaville Beauty Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more compact than and not as         vigorous as plants of ‘Sundaville Beauty Red’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla do not produce tendrils whereas         plants of ‘Sundaville Beauty Red’ produce tendrils.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘QD8’ grown in a container.

The photographs on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) are close-up views of typical developing flowers and developing leaves of ‘QD8’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn in 13-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Sabro, Denmark and under cultural practices typical of commercial Mandevilla production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 40 klux to 50 klux. Plants were pinched two times and were 31 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla sanderi ‘QD8’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             sanderi identified as code number GB 2013-0902, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             sanderi identified as code number GB 2013-0196, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at soil             and ambient temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at soil and             ambient temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About seven             weeks at soil and ambient temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About eight             weeks at soil and ambient temperatures about 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fleshy; typically close to 161C in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, broadly upright to vining             plant habit; overall plant shape is broadly obovate;             moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit and moderate             growth rate; freely branching habit; dense and bushy             appearance.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 25 cm             to 35 cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 28 cm             to 38 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 25 cm to 35 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely             branching habit, about four to six primary lateral branches             each with typically four to eight secondary lateral branches             developing per plant. Length: About 10 cm to 25 cm.             Diameter: About 5 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm to 4 cm.             Aspect: Mostly upright to vining. Strength: Strong. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy to matte. Color,             developing: Close to 144A. Color, developed: Close to 144A;             becoming closer to 148A with subsequent development. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 4 cm to 8 cm.         -   Width.—About 2 cm to 6 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to oblong.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate to mucronate.         -   Base.—Obtuse to rounded cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire, not undulate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; not             rugose; slightly coriaceous; semi-glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous; not             rugose; slightly coriaceous; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 141A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137D. Full             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,             close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137C; venation, close to 135A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy to matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 143C.             Color, lower surface: Close to 139D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged singly or in terminal or axillary cymes; flowers             rounded star-shaped and face upright to outwardly; freely             flowering habit with about three to six flower buds and             about one to two open flowers per inflorescence.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from             spring into the autumn in Denmark; plants begin flowering             about nine to twelve weeks after final pinch.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About 8 to 14 days; flowers             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Inflorescence height (before flowers open).—About 5 cm to 8             cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter (before flowers open).—About 5 cm to             7 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm to 7 cm. Diameter: About 1             cm to 2 cm. Shape: Rhomboidal. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 53C.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, petals fused and             five-parted; petals slightly imbricate. Diameter: About 10             cm to 12 cm. Depth (length): About 4 cm to 5 cm. Throat             diameter: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Tube length: About 2 cm to             3 cm. Tube diameter: About 5 mm to 7 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl; proximally, petals are fused into a funnelform             tube. Petal length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Petal width: About 4             cm to 5 cm. Petal shape and appearance: Unequal spatulate.             Petal apex: Acuminate to mucronate. Petal margin: Entire;             slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; not rugose; moderately velvety; matte.             Petal texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             not rugose; moderately velvety; moderately glossy. Throat             texture: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety. Tube texture:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety. Color: Petal, when             opening, upper surface: Close to 53C. Petal, when opening,             lower surface: Close to 54A. Petal, fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 53B; venation, close to 53B; color             becoming closer to 46B with development. Petal, fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 53C; venation, close to 53C;             color becoming closer to 53B with development. Throat: Close             to N172D; proximally, close to N144D; venation, close to 46A             and N144D. Tube: Close to N144D; venation, close to N144D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl. Sepal length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Sepal             width: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal             apex: Acuminate. Sepal base: Rounded. Sepal margin: Entire.             Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy. Sepal color: When opening, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 145B; towards the apex, close to             46B; towards the base, close to 146B. Fully opened, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 145B; towards the apex, close             to 46B; towards the base, close to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to             146A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to             146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament             length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D.             Anther size: About 2 mm by 5 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly             oblong. Anther color: Close to 162C. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 162C. Pistils: Quantity:             Typically one or two. Pistil length: About 2 cm. Style             length: About 5 mm to 20 mm. Style color: Close to 193B.             Stigma diameter: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded             to deltoid. Stigma color: Close to 138B. Ovary color: Close             to 193A.         -   Fruits.—Quantity per flower: One. Length: About 1 cm to             2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 5 mm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 138A.         -   Seeds.—Quantity per fruit: More than 100. Length: About 5 mm             to 10 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: Close to 200D. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Mandevilla     have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to tolerate temperatures of about 10° C. to 44° C. and to     be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10b through 13. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘QD8’ as illustrated and described. 